Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science, and Biotechnology, Laboratory Animal Research Center, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Yonsei Med J. 2014 Jan;55(1):1-8. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2014.55.1.1.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the protein component of telomerase and combined with an RNA molecule, telomerase RNA component, forms the telomerase enzyme responsible for telomere elongation. Telomerase is essential for maintaining telomere length from replicative attrition and thus contributes to the preservation of genome integrity. Although diverse mouse models have been developed and studied to prove the physiological roles of telomerase as a telomere- elongating enzyme, recent studies have revealed non-canonical TERT activities beyond telomeres. To gain insights into the physiological impact of extra-telomeric roles, this review revisits the strategies and phenotypes of telomerase mouse models in terms of the extra-telomeric functions of telomerase.
端粒酶逆转录酶（TERT）是端粒酶的蛋白组成部分，与端粒酶 RNA 成分结合，形成负责端粒延长的端粒酶酶。端粒酶对于维持因复制性损耗而导致的端粒长度至关重要，从而有助于保护基因组完整性。尽管已经开发和研究了多种小鼠模型来证明端粒酶作为端粒延长酶的生理作用，但最近的研究揭示了端粒以外的非典型 TERT 活性。为了深入了解端粒外作用的生理影响，本综述重新审视了端粒酶小鼠模型在端粒酶的端粒外功能方面的策略和表型。
